The city of St. Petersburg is not the prime destination of tourists. Rather, a small chain of coastal islands linked with bridges form the beaches in the St. Pete’s/Clearwater area. A long-time favourite destination for English speaking Canadians, this area sports wide sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Waters are calmer and warmer than those on the Atlantic side with hard-packed sands. St. Pete’s Beach is the busy centre of this area, bound on the bottom by the historic Don Cesar hotel and by Treasure Island to the north.  Mini golf, restaurants, and tourist attractions located throughout this area make it especially popular for families. North of Treasure Island is Madeira Beach, Redington Shores, Indian Shores, and Indian Rocks – all popular locations for highrise, beachfront, condominium complexes. Clearwater is another concentrated strip of older highrise hotels and motels situated on a white sandy beach. Busch Gardens, located outside of Tampa, is a theme park dedicated to African wildlife, complete with its share of thrilling rides and roller coasters. The Gulf Coast resort area is a great place to spend a relaxing week in Florida. It’s also an excellent part of a two-centre holiday, combined with the theme park dominated Orlando stay. 

Getting Around: Arrive at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). The airport is located 4 miles north of St. Petersburg. A car is recommended.

Where to Stay: St. Petes offers lovely Florida vacation accommodations. Stay at the Clearwater Beach Marriott, Sunset Vista Suites, or other resorts recommended by our travel agents to suit your budget and preferences. 

Weather: Average lows in January dip to 12C and average highs reach up to 21C. In July, average temperatures range from 25-33C. 

To learn more about St. Petes vacations, call 1-800-665-4981.